'Criminal' use of force by Ukraine would imperil talks: Lavrovby Staff WritersBeijing (AFP) April 15, 2014

NATO head urges Russia to pull back troops from Ukraine borderLuxembourg (AFP) April 15, 2014 -
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged Russia Tuesday to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine and withdraw troops massed on the border with its Soviet-era satellite.

"I am deeply concerned by the latest developments in Ukraine," Rasmussen said, citing the seizure of government buildings in the east of the country by pro-Moscow militias.

"I call on Russia to de-escalate the crisis, to pull back its troops ... to stop destabilising the situation and make clear it does not support the violent actions of pro-Russian separatists."

"Russia should stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution," he said.

Rasmussen was to brief European Union defence ministers meeting here on NATO measures to bolster alliance member states in eastern Europe where the Ukraine crisis has sparked fears Russia is seeking to re-establish its former sphere of influence.

The NATO chief stressed "we are not discussing military options."

"We believe the right way forward is to find a political and diplomatic solution," he added.

The United States, NATO's lead military power, has deployed additional fighter aircraft to the Baltic states and Poland in recent weeks as the Ukraine crisis has unfolded.

The four-way meeting set for Thursday involving top diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union is the latest step in a flurry of diplomacy aimed at easing the worst European security crisis in decades.

"One cannot issue invitations to talks while at the same time issuing criminal orders for the use of armed force against the people there," Lavrov said during a visit to Beijing.

"You can't send in tanks and at the same time hold talks, and the use of force would sabotage the opportunity offered by the four-party negotiations in Geneva," he said.

US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland earlier played down US expectations for the summit, although she maintained that "it is very important to keep that diplomatic door open and will see what they bring".

In unusually strong language at a joint news conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Lavrov denounced Kiev for "spreading lies" about Russia's position and actions in Ukraine.

Moscow "in principle" supports the idea of four-way talks, although they must be "genuine and not merely for show," Lavrov said.

"So, if the Ukrainian foreign ministry says Russia is afraid to hold these talks in Geneva, don't believe it," he said. "It's a lie."

Lavrov also denied international claims that Russia is dispatching pro-Kremlin forces to Ukraine's southeast, where balaclava-clad gunmen have stormed government buildings.

"This is a total lie that supposes that those residents there are completely incapable of protesting of their own will," he said.

Lavrov's visit, which includes a meeting later Tuesday with President Xi Jinping, comes amid preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to China next month, as the two powers forge increasingly close ties.

In a sign of warming relations, Xi made Russia his first destination after taking office last year and attended the Sochi Olympics in March, becoming China's first leader to attend a major overseas sports event.

The Ukraine crisis has thrown up an unanticipated hurdle, however. Beijing has struggled to support its ally while maintaining its stance of "non-interference" in other countries' domestic affairs.

Beijing has refrained from publicly criticising Russia on the issue. And when the UN General Assembly last month adopted a Ukraine-backed resolution condemning Crimea's referendum and refusing to recognise Russia's annexation of the peninsula, China abstained from voting.

Lavrov told reporters at the news conference with Wang that Russia "appreciates China's objective, balanced and responsible stance" on the Ukraine issue.

Echoing comments he made on Monday at a meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Wang said China welcomes this week's four-way talks in Geneva.

"We're optimistic this will advance the cause of peace that we advocate," Wang said.

Romania presses for NATO redeployment over Ukraine crisisBucharest (AFP) April 10, 2014
NATO should redeploy its forces in eastern Europe and take a firm stand to prevent a contagion of the Ukraine crisis, Romania's foreign minister urged in an interview Thursday with AFP.
"Romania has concrete expectations of a redeployment and an eastward repositioning of NATO's naval, air and ground forces," Titus Corlatean said.
"The Black Sea region must be a top priority for NATO and ... read more

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